GalCiv2 - Dark Avatar

**Zenicetus** · 02-19-2007, 08:37

Anyone here playing the expansion pack? I'm sorta on hold for MTW2, waiting to see what the next patch is like, so for $29 and an easy download, I just sprang (sprung?) for this.

I'm no expert at the original game, but so far I like the new version. There are two additions to slow down the initial colony rush -- a new mining resource with asteroids, and the ability to research terraforming to turn initially crap planets into high-value ones. I'm not sure yet about mining... might just be more micro hassle, but the terraforming addition is very nice for slowing down, or at least altering the dynamics of the colony rush, especially on smaller maps.

I've read reviews that say the AI is better, but I just got the expansion and I'm not deep enough into the game to know if that's true or not. There are two new AI aliens, and a new "superpower" for each race that you can toggle on or off. No opinion on that yet... for now, I'm just enjoying the new dynamics with the initial "colony rush" phase of the game.

**Abokasee** · 02-19-2007, 11:27

Yeah remember when you get to a conolize (not invade) a new planet Buy a factory, Dont Build one

**Lehesu** · 02-19-2007, 19:50

A most excellent expansion pack.

**Spino** · 02-20-2007, 20:21

I ordered the CD version this weekend. This purchase also entitles me to a digital download but I don't feel like having to deal with Stardock's proprietary downloader and whatnot. By the time I recover from my cold I figure i'll be good to go for Dark Avatar.

It's hard not to love what Stardock has done with the GalCiv series; they have combined great gameplay, features, extraordinary AI and a developer/fan relationship that is arguably second to none!

**Crazed Rabbit** · 02-20-2007, 20:49

Well, I'm intrigued - how much is the game and expansion together?

CR

**Spino** · 02-20-2007, 21:16

Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

Well, I'm intrigued - how much is the game and expansion together?

CR

There's a gold version which combines both for ~$45.

http://www.galciv2.com/Purchase.aspx

**Xiahou** · 02-20-2007, 21:18

Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

Well, I'm intrigued - how much is the game and expansion together?

CR

If you see anything else you like at their gaming portal- Totalgaming.net- you could buy 10 tokens for $69.95... the game and expansion pack together would only cost 5 tokens, which would leave you 5 tokens left to pick out some other gems from their site. If you do that math, I think you'd be getting GalCiv2 and the expansion at a significant discount. For your remaining tokens I'd recommend taking a look at The Political Machine, for starters- at 2 tokens.

None of the games on the site are bleeding edge afaik, but a lot of them are fun- and I don't mind supporting a company like Stardock.

**Zenicetus** · 02-20-2007, 23:17

BTW, I just found this guide linked on the GalCiv2 forum, which has info on the new stuff like asteroids and spies:

http://www.jeffpinard.com/Dark%20Avatar.htm

It's also a great intro to the game, if you haven't bought it yet and you're curious how the strategy works, and what it looks like.

So far, I'm really enjoying the expansion.

**frogbeastegg** · 02-23-2007, 13:12

I got it half an hour ago, the second gaming related action on my new desktop. The first gaming related action was reinstalling GalCiv 2! Between this and EUIII I'm all set for big complex grand strategy games :contented sigh: